GIFT   OF 
Mrs.   L.M.   Ehrman 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

A  Play  in  One  Act 


THE 
STATE    FORBIDS 

A  PLAY  IN  ONE  ACT 


BY 

SADA  COWAN 


NEW  YORK 

MITCHELL  KENNERLEY 
1915 


COPYRIGHT,  IQIS,    BY 
MITCHELL  KENNERLEY 


PRINTED    IN    AMERICA 


To 
"BUNNY  .   .   ." 

Who  has  shared  the 
sunshine  and  the  shadow  with  me. 


82568,3 


CHARACTERS 

MRS.  NASH 
HAROLD  NASH 
POOR  LITTLE  ONE 
THE  DISTRICT  NURSE 
DR.  SPENCER 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS 


CHARACTERS 

MRS.  NASH. 
HAROLD  NASH. 
POOR  LITTLE  ONE. 
THE  DISTRICT  NURSE. 
DOCTOR  SPENCER. 

SCENE:  MRS.  NASH'S  one  room  dwelling  .  .  .  desolation.  At 
the  left  of  the  barren  room  is  a  small  cook  stove.  It  is 
not  far  from  the  door  leading  into  the  hall,  which  is  at 
the  back  of  the  room.  On  the  opposite  side  is  a  bed  in 
which  a  woman  lies  asleep.  Not  far  from  this,  near  the 
window,  is  a  crude  crib.  The  district  nurse  is  prepar 
ing  food  near  the  oil  cook-stove.  She  moves  noiselessly. 
The  door  opens  and  HAROLD  NASH,  a  ten-year-old  boy, 


10  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

poorly  clothed  but  well  built  and  not  under-nourished, 
bounces  into  the  room. 

HAROLD.  Hello! 

NURSE.   [Laymg  her  finger  on  her  lips  and  pointing  to  the 
sleeping  figure.']   Sh  .  .  .  h  .  .  .    ! 

HAROLD.   [Lowering  his  voice.']  Oh!  [He  slings  down  his 
cap.']  You  the  nurse? 

NURSE.  Yes.     I  suppose  you're  Harold. 

HAROLD.  Sure.   [He  thrusts  his  hands  mto  his  pockets  and 
shivers."]   Gee  .  .  .  but  I'm  glad  to  get  back. 

NURSE.   [Reprovingly.']  Don't  talk  so  loud. 

HAROLD.   [In  low  tones,  glancing  at  his  mother.']  Why  did 
I  have  to  stay  away  so  long? 

NURSE.  Your  mother  was  very  sick.     [Busy.]   But  four 
weeks  isn't  so  terribly  long. 

HAROLD.  You'd  think  it  was  if  you  had  to  stay  at  Porter's 
punk  hole.   [A  pause.']  Anything  to  eat? 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  11 

NURSE.  [Stirring  Tier  cooking.]  There  will  be  presently. 
Hungry? 

HAROLD.  Am  I? 

NURSE.  [Smiles.']  Just  a  few  minutes.  You  don't  seem 
very  anxious  to  see  your  new  brother. 

HAROLD.   [Makes  a  wry  face  indicating  his  indifference.] 
NURSE.  I  thought  all  little  boys  liked  to  have  a  brother. 
HAROLD.   [Lazily  going  towards  the  crib.~\  Is  that  it? 
NURSE.  Don't  wake  him. 

HAROLD.  [Tiptoes  to  the  crib  and  stands  a  moment  staring 
down.  Then  he  returns  to  the  nurse.]  Gee  .  .  .  ain't  it 
ugly !  Phew ! 

NURSE.  All  little  babies  are  ugly. 

HAROLD.   [Surprised.]  All  got  big  heads  like  that? 

NURSE.   [With  meaning.]  Not  just  like  that. 

HAROLD.  [Shuddering.]  Ugh!  Looks  fierce!  [A  pause.] 
I'll  bet  it'll  eat  a  lot.  [Confidentially,  sitting  on  the  edge  of  a 
box.]  Good  thing  my  old  man  never  saw  him  .  .  . 


12  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

NURSE.   [Reprovingly.]  Do  you  mean  your  father,  Har 
old? 

HAROLD.  Sure. 

NURSE.  Well,  say  "  My  father,"  then. 
HAROLD.  Not  for  MY  old  man. 
NURSE.   [Smiles  unwillingly.] 

HAROLD.   [Prattling.]   It's  six  months  since  the  old  man 
croaked  .  .  . 

NURSE.   [Reproachfully.]  Died,  .  .  .  Harold. 

HAROLD.   [Meekly.]   Died.     And  .  .  .  I'll  tell  you  some 
thing,  if  you  won't  tell  .  .  . 

NURSE.  I  won't  tell. 

HAROLD.  I  don't  believe  Ma  was  any  more  sorry  than  me 
when  he  did  kick  out. 

NURSE.   [As  before.]  Harold! 

HAROLD.  Honest.     He  wasn't  half  good  enough  for  her. 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  13 

Everybody  said  so.     And  we  was  both  awful  scared  of  him 
when  he  was  soused. 

NURSE.  Drunk! 

HAROLD.  Drunk.  And  he  was  drunk  all  the  time.  If  you 
don't  believe  me,  ask  Doctor  Spencer.  He'll  tell  you. 

NURSE.  Doctor  Spencer  is  very  fond  of  you. 

HAROLD.  He  ought  to  be.  He  told  Doctor  Harris  he 
made  his  reputation  on  me  at  the  hospital.  So  he  ought  to 
like  me. 

NURSE.  You  ought  to  like  him.  You'd  have  died  if  he 
hadn't  pulled  you  through. 

HAROLD.  [Confidentially.]  I  was  tellin'  one  of  the  boys 
about  when  I  was  a  kid  and  he  said  kids  was  sick  like  me  when 
their  old  man  .  .  . 

NURSE.  [Hastily.]  Never  mind  what  the  boy  said.  He 
probably  didn't  know  anyway. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Stirs  in  her  bed  and  stretches  out  her  arms.'] 
Oh  .  .  h! 


14  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

HAROLD.   [Going  to  the  bedside.]  Hello,  Ma.     You  sure 
can  sleep. 

MRS.  NASH.   [Kissing  him.]  Oh,  Harold  dear. 

HAROLD.   [As  though  imparting  news.]  The  baby's  awful 
ugly,  ain't  it? 

MRS.  NASH.  Mother  hasn't  seen  little  brother  yet.   [To  the 
NURSE,  imploringly.]   But  to-day  .  .  . 

NURSE.  As  soon  as  the  baby  wakes  up,  Mrs.  Nash. 

MRS.  NASH.  You've  been  putting  me  off  for  days  and  days. 
Why  can't  I  have  my  baby? 

NURSE.  It  was  for  your  own  good  and  the  child's  good. 
You've  been  too  ill. 

MRS.  NASH.  Oh,  I  dread  to  see  him.     WHAT'S  the  matter 
with  him? 

NURSE.   [Sharply.]  Matter  with  him?     Why  should  there 
be  anything? 

MRS.    NASH.  I'm    so    afraid!     I  ...   [Abruptly.]  Give 
him  to  me,  please. 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  15 

NURSE.  [More  sharply.]  You  don't  want  me  to  wake  him, 
do  you? 

MRS.  NASH.  No,  I  suppose  not. 

[There  is  a  knock  on  the  door,  an  immediate  open 
ing,  and  DOCTOR  SPENCER  enters.  He  is 
young,  tall  and  business  like.  A  man  of  mind 
but  of  conventional  training.] 

DOCTOR.  Good  morning. 

NURSE.  Good  morning.  [She  leaves  her  cooking,  turns 
down  the  light,  and  comes  to  the  bed,  where  she  stands.] 

DOCTOR.  [Taking  HAROLD'S  hand.]  Hello,  my  boy!  Glad 
to  see  you.  [He  lays  his  hat  on  the  table.] 

HAROLD.  [Very  respectfully,  for  him.]  Same  to  you,  Doc 
tor  Spencer. 

DOCTOR.  [Smiling.]  What  do  you  say  to  the  little  present 
I  brought  you?  [He  goes  to  the  bedside  and  feels  the  pa 
tient's  pulse.] 

HAROLD.   [Hangs  his  head  somewhat  sulkily.] 


16  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

NURSE.  He  hasn't  seemed  over  pleased. 

DOCTOR.  [Returns  to  HAROLD  and  pats  his  head.]  Run 
outside  .  .  .  there's  a  good  fellow.  I'll  be  here  only  a  few 
moments.  Then  you  can  come  back. 

HAROLD.  Yes,  sir.     Will  you  whistle  when  you  go? 
DOCTOR.  Sure  I  will. 

HAROLD.  [Going.']  Thanks.  [In  the  doorway  he  pauses. ] 
I  don't  want  you  to  think  I'm  ungrateful,  but  being  a  friend 
of  mine  [with  an  indication  towards  the  crib]  .  .  .  you 
might  have  dropped  something  better  looking  than  that  into 
the  house.  [He  goes.] 

DOCTOR.  [Now  sits  beside  the  bed.  He  addresses  the 
NURSE  significantly.]  Mrs.  Nash  hasn't  seen  her  baby  yet? 

NURSE.  No. 

DOCTOR.  Um! 

NURSE.  I  thought  you'd  better  be  here. 

MRS.  NASH.  Doctor  ...  I  WANT  my  baby. 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  17 

DOCTOE.  Of  course  you  do  and  you  shall  have  it.  But 
tell  me  first,  how  you  are?  How  have  you  slept? 

MRS.  NASH.  Just  now  I  slept  and  I  dreamed  of  my  baby. 
He  was  big  and  beautiful  and  strong.  Oh,  I  was  proud  of 
him. 

DOCTOR.  [Cheerfully.]  The  sort  of  man  Harold  is  going 
to  be. 

MRS.  NASH.  I  hope  so.  And  the  Little  One  .  .  .  {Plead 
ingly;  she  is  fearful  of  the  answer.]  The  Little  One,  too? 

DOCTOR.  [Gravely,  somewhat  hesitantly.']  The  Little  One 
may  not  be  quite  so  big  and  strong. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Sitting  up  in  bed.]  Why?  What  do  you 
mean  ? 

DOCTOR.  He's  not  strong. 

MRS.  NASH.  [In  terror.]  But  that's  all  ...  he's  just  not 
strong  .  .  .  ?  There's  nothing  really  the  matter  with  him? 

DOCTOR.  Nothing  to  be  alarmed  about.  But  he  looks  a 
little  strange  just  now.  So  I  want  to  warn  you  before  you 
see  him. 


18  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

MRS.  NASH.  [ Unconvinced  by  the  tone.]  What's  wrong 
with  him,  Doctor?  Tell  me. 

DOCTOR.  He  may  be  somewhat  of  an  invalid,  Mrs.  Nash. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Agonizing.]  Oh,  tell  me  ...  tell  me.  Is 
he  crippled  or  maimed?  Oh,  don't  try  to  spare  me.  Tell 
me. 

DOCTOR.  Be  quiet.     Or  I  can't  tell  you. 

MRS.  NASH.  What  is  it?  Is  he  blind?  Or  deaf  or  de 
formed  ? 

DOCTOR.  He's  not  blind  or  deaf  or  deformed  .  .  .  that  is 
—  not  bodily. 

MRS.  NASH.   [With  horror  in  her  face.]  You  mean  .  .  .   ? 

DOCTOR.  His  mind.  He  won't  be  just  like  other  children. 
You'll  have  to  be  very  tender  and  patient  with  him.  He'll 
need  all  the  love  you  can  give  him. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Dully.]  His  mind  .  .  .  !  Oh,  you  don't 
mean  he's  a  ... 

DOCTOR.   [Gently.]   He  is   everything  you  fear.     Just  a 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  19 

little  helpless  mass  of  life.     That's  all  he  can  ever  be.   [Ris 
ing.]  Now  you  know. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Stiwned,  stares  before  Tier.  Then  she  lets 
out  a  short  sharp  scream.] 

NUESE.  Oh,  Doctor,  ought  you  to  have  told  her? 

DOCTOR.  [Laying  his  hand  firmly  on  MRS.  NASH'S  shoul 
der.]  She's  got  to  know  sometime.  She's  got  to  face  it. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Dully.]  An  idiot!  My  baby!  [Sobs  choke 
tier.  She  turns  to  the  DOCTOR.]  Oh,  perhaps  it  isn't  as  bad 
as  you  think.  Harold  was  weak  and  sick  and  .  .  .  [Her 
voice  hardens.]  No.  Harold  was  born  ten  years  before. 

DOCTOR.  [Does  not  answer,  but  pats  her  shoulder  ten 
derly,  waiting  for  her  to  grow  quiet.] 

MRS.  NASH.  [Harshly.]  I  heard  a  woman  once  talk  just 
as  I  am  talking.  Only  they  lied  to  her.  They  said  her  baby 
could  be  cured.  I  looked  at  that  child.  [She  shudders.] 
Ugh !  I  shall  never  forget  .  .  .  the  lolling  big  head,  the  .  .  . 

DOCTOR.   Sh  .  .   .  h!     This  won't  do  you  any  good. 
MRS.  NASH.   [As  in  a  trance.]  A  child  of  a  drunkard  .  .  . 


20  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

a  degenerate  .  .  .  Just  a  Poor  Little  One  .  .  .  [an  instant's 
pause]  .  .  .  like  —  Mine.  [Presently  the  dull  stoniness  of 
emotion  passes  and  she  turns  hysterically  to  the  physician.] 
Don't  let  it  grow  up  to  suffer,  Doctor.  Don't  let  it  live  in 
hell.  It  doesn't  know  anything  now.  It's  no  use  to  itself. 
It's  no  use  to  any  one  on  earth.  Oh,  Doctor,  kill  it !  That's 
the  kind  thing.  That's  humane.  There's  no  harm.  It's 
no  more  than  throwing  away  a  flower. 

DOCTOR.  Sh  .  .  .  h!  Be  quiet  please.  You'll  work 
yourself  into  a  fever. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Clinging  to  him;  hysterically.]  Kill  it,  Doc 
tor  ...  kill  it !  Don't  let  it  live.  Oh,  why  won't  you  end 
its  suffering?  Why? 

DOCTOR.  I  CAN'T  TAKE  LIFE.  That's  impossible.  Crip 
pled,  diseased,  imbecile,  whatever  it  is,  it  is  life  and  I  can't 
take  it. 

MRS.  NASH.  It's  my  child.  I  bore  it. 
DOCTOR.  The  child  has  a  right  to  live. 
MRS.  NASH.  To  live  —  yes.  But  THIS  isn't  life.  It  will 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  21 

even  never  know  it's  alive.  It  will  just  stare  and  stare  and 
know  nothing.  But  I'll  know  it's  alive.  I'll  have  to  watch  it 
day  by  day  and  know  that  it's  my  fault.  I  did  it.  I  can't,  I 
tell  you.  I  can't.  It's  a  sin  ...  a  crime.  I  won't  let  it 
live.  I  ... 

DOCTOR.  Mrs.  Nash,  you  must  be  quiet. 

MRS.  NASH.  [As  before.]  Kill  it,  Doctor.  It  wouldn't 
want  to  live  if  it  could  choose.  You'd  shoot  a  suffering  dog. 
You'd  kill  a  horse  you  loved  rather  than  see  it  suffer.  But 
my  baby,  a  little  human  soul,  you  won't  put  out  of  torture. 
Well,  I  LOVE  it.  Do  you  know  what  that  means  ?  [She  peers 
into  his  face  fanatically.']  If  you  won't  kill  it,  I  will. 

DOCTOR.  [Matter  of  fact.]  Nonsense,  Mrs.  Nash.  You 
don't  realize  what  you  are  saying. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Excitedly.']  I  love  it,  I  tell  you.  I  bore  it, 
dreamed  for  it,  prayed  for  it.  After  I  knew  that  it  MUST 
come  .  .  .  Oh,  how  I  prayed  that  it  should  be  beautiful  and 
strong.  It  should  have  all  in  life  I  had  missed  and  now  .  .  . 
[She  breaks  down.]  Oh,  my  God!  [^4  pause  in  which  she 
sobs.]  I  won't  do  this  thing,  I  tell  you.  I  won't  commit  this 


22  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

crime.     It  didn't  want  to  come.     It  didn't  ask  to  come.     It 
shouldn't  have  come.    [Resolutely.]   And  it  sha'n't  stay. 

DOCTOR.  [Taking  for  hand.]  Mrs.  Nash,  please,  control 
yourself. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Bursts  into  a  hysterical  fit  of  sobbing.  The 
DOCTOR  rises  to  allow  her  to  grow  quieter.  The  NURSE  steps 
forward  to  him] 

DOCTOR.  I  have  told  her  too  soon.  A  little  bromide  at 
once.  [He  opens  his  bag  and  gives  the  medicine  to  the  NURSE. 
Both  DOCTOR  and  NURSE  stand  back  to  the  woman] 

MRS.  NASH.  [Slips  out  of  bed,  a  pillow  in  her  hand,  which 
she  is  almost  too  weak  to  hold.  Feebly  she  totters  towards 
the  crib.  Without  looking  at  the  infant,  turning  her  face 
away  so  that  she  may  not  see  what  she  is  doing,  she  rams  the 
pillow  down  upon  the  child  and  holds  it  there.  Then  a  moan 
escapes  her  and  she  totters,  saves  herself  from  falling  by 
clutching  at  the  crib.  Still  she  looks  persistently  away. 
The  DOCTOR  and  NURSE  hear  her  and  rush  towards  her. 
Again  summoning  all  her  strength  MRS.  NASH  presses  the 
pillow  down  upon  the  child  and  holds  it  firmly,  while  she  faces 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  23 

the  DOCTOR  cmd  NURSE,  as  an  entrapped  animal,  about  to 
spring.]  It  shaVt  live,  I  tell  you ! 

DOCTOR.  [Takes  Tier  arm.  With  the  little  strength  slie 
has  left  she  struggles  "with  him.]  You'll  hurt  yourself.  I'm 
stronger  than  you  are. 

[The  NURSE  has  lifted  the  pillow  from  the  baby  and 
fans  the  child  with  a  bit  of  paper.  She  raises 
its  head,  bending  over  the  crib.] 

DOCTOR.  Think  what  you're  doing.  This  would  be  mur 
der. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Standing  stUl;  dully,  as  though  turned  to 
stone.]  Murder?  No.  Love  —  pity  —  compassion ! 

DOCTOR.  [Leading  her  towards  the  bed.]  The  State 
wouldn't  see  it  your  way,  I'm  afraid.  You'd  have  a  big  price 
to  pay. 

MRS.  NASH.   [Intensely.]  I'd  be  willing. 
NURSE.   [Comes  and  arranges  her  in  bed.] 
DOCTOR.   [Sits  near  her  agam.] 


24  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

MRS.  NASH.  [Falls  back  upon  her  pillows  exhausted. 
But  after  an  instant  she  sits  up  and  leans  towards  him.  She 
is  intensely  wrought  up  and  excited.]  I  oughtn't  to  have 
borne  that  child.  You  knew  it  ... 

DOCTOR.  I  warned  you  when  Harold  came  not  to  have 
another  baby. 

MRS.  NASH.   [Bitterly.]   You  warned  me!     But  how? 
DOCTOR.  I  told  you  .  .  . 

MRS.  NASH.  [Passionately]  You  DIDN'T  tell  me.  You 
hinted !  You  gave  me  vague  advice  that  left  me  as  blind  as  I 
was  before. 

DOCTOR.  You  are  ungrateful.  I  told  you  all  I  dared.  It 
is  against  the  law  to  tell  a  woman  ways  and  means  to  prevent 
conception.  Perhaps  you  didn't  know  this.  But  it  is 
against  the  law. 

MRS.  NASH.  For  ten  years  I  chanced  not  to  have  a  child. 
It  wasn't  my  wisdom  or  your  help  that  kept  me  from  it.  And 
then  —  then  when  this  happened  and  I  knew,  I  came  to  you 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  25 

and  begged  you  .  .   .  begged  you  on  my  knees  ...  to  help 
me.     But  you  wouldn't. 

DOCTOR.  I  couldn't  belp  you. 

MRS.  NASH.   [Savagely.]  You  wouldn't. 

DOCTOR.  It  would  have  been  criminal. 

MRS.  NASH.   [Pointing  to  the  crib.]   More  criminal  than 
-that? 

DOCTOR.  You  asked  an  impossible  thing.  I  only  did  my 
duty.  No  decent  doctor  would  risk  his  career  and  face  the 
criminal  court  to  do  the  thing  you  wanted. 

MRS.  NASH.  Oh,  how  you  tortured  me  that  day  with  all 
you  told  me.  My  heart  ached  for  the  little  unborn  thing. 
You  stood  there  and  saw.  You  saw  the  hell  open  before  it 
...  the  life-long  torture.  But  you  wouldn't  help. 

DOCTOR.  [Gently.']  The  State  forbids  such  things,  Mrs. 
Nash.  It's  taking  life.  Even  unborn  life  is  life,  you  know. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Harshly,  indicating  the  child.]  I  don't  call 
THAT  life. 


26  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

DOCTOR.  You  shouldn't  be  unreasonable.  I  can't  go 
against  the  State.  [Now  he  includes  the  NURSE  by  an  occa 
sional  glance.'}  Perhaps  it  isn't  right  or  just  when  women 
need  us  doctors ;  and  God  knows,  they  do  need  us.  But  what 
can  we  do  ?  Our  hands  are  tied. 

MRS.  NASH.   [Agonizing,  rocks  to  and  fro.] 

DOCTOR.  Personally  I  think  a  doctor  should  have  as  much 
say  over  life  and  death  as  a  judge  has.  It  would  save  a  lot 
of  misery.  But  that  isn't  the  law.  And  we  are  helpless. 
[He  glances  at  the  NURSE.]  You  know  I  firmly  believe  in 
educating  women  to  have  only  as  many  children  as  they  can 
properly  care  for;  as  many  as  their  strength  permits  [to 
MRS.  NASH]  and  in  a  case  like  yours  —  none.  But  as  I  say, 
the  State  .  .  . 

MRS.  NASH.  [Vehemently.']  Oh,  I  know!  I've  seen  it  time 
and  again.  The  mothers  don't  count.  The  babies  don't 
count.  It  doesn't  matter  whether  they're  fed  or  clothed  or 
happy.  They  grow  up  into  men  and  women  somehow.  And 
that's  all  the  State  cares.  Tools  .  .  .  !  Just  so  many 
tools.  It  won't  ever  help  when  it  ought  to.  It  wouldn't 
help  me.  It  wouldn't  let  you  help  me.  [She  sobs  while  she 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  27 

talks.']  It  made  me  have  that  baby  even  after  I  knew  that  it 
might  be  born  cursed.  [Hard.]  But  I've  fooled  them  this 
time.  That's  a  useless  tool  .  .  .  it's  no  good  to  them.  An 
idiot.  [Breaking  down.]  My  baby!  Oh,  my  God! 

[  While  she  is  hysterically  sobbing -,  the  NURSE  takes 
up  the  baby  and  brings  it  to  her.  It  is  held 
so  that  no  one  but  the  mother  looks  upon  it. 
For  an  instant  she  turns  her  face  from  it.'] 

MRS.  NASH.  Take  it  away.  I  don't  want  to  see  it.  I 
don't  ever  want  to  see  it.  [Presently  she  looks,  first  with  hor 
ror  and  covers  her  eyes  with  her  hands.]  Ugh!  [Then  she 
looks  again  and  gazes  fascinated.  Now  overcome  with  pity 
she  opens  her  arms]  My  baby!  Poor  little  one!  Poor  lit 
tle  beggar!  [The  NURSE  gives  her  the  child,  she  holds  it  to 
her  and  kisses  it  passionately] 

DOCTOR.  [To  the  NURSE.]  She's  all  right  now.  She  won't 
hurt  it.  [He  takes  up  his  hat]  I'll  drop  in  later.  Good-bye. 
[He  goes.  An  instant  later  a  whistle  is  heard  outside] 

MRS.  NASH.   [Lies  back  with  her  baby  in  her  arms] 
HAROLD.   [Enters]   I'm  awful  hungry.   [He  walks  to  the 


28  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

bed  and  watches  the  pair.  Then  he  shrugs  his  shoulders, 
thrusts  his  hands  contemptuously  into  his  pockets,  commences 
to  whistle  and  walks  to  the  window.}  I'm  glad  you've  got 
something  else  to  hug  except  me. 

NURSE.  [Busy  at  the  cook  stove.}  Don't  you  like  to  be 
hugged. 

HAROLD.  [Looking  out  the  window.}  Naw.  I'm  too  big. 
He'll  be  big  some  day,  then  he  won't  want  to  be  hugged 
neither. 

NURSE.   [Shudders  at  the  suggestion.} 

HAROLD.  [Turns  and  watches  the  child,  contemptuously.} 
He's  fierce !  I'll  never  like  him. 

NURSE.   [Dishes  some  soup  and  puts  it  on  the  table.} 

HAROLD.  [At  once  forgets  mother  and  child  and  com 
mences  to  eat  rapidly.] 

THE    CURTAIN    IS    LOWERED 


It  is  now  ten  years  later. 

The  room  is  a  trifle  less  poverty  stricken.  The  cook-stove 
has  gone.  There  is  also  an  inner  room. 

MRS.  NASH  is  sewing.  At  her  feet  POOR  LITTLE  ONE,  a  large 
overgrown  boy,  is  discovered  facing  the  window  at  the 
back  of  the  room.*  He  is  playing  with  toys.  Now  he 
raises  his  hands,  high  above  his  head,  clasps  them  to 
gether  and  bursts  out  laughing.  MRS.  NASH  shrinks 
slightly,  as  she  always  does  at  the  sound  of  his  senseless 
laughter.  It  lasts  but  a  moment.  Then  in  silence  he 
continues  to  play. 

MRS.  NASH.  [For  a  second  stares  at  him  broodingly,  then 
continues  to  sew.] 

HAROLD.  [A  handsome  lad  of  twenty,  manly  and  well  set 
up,  enters.  He  kisses  his  mother  and  tosses  a  bag  to  the 
child.]  Here,  Little  One  —  catch!  [The  child  makes  no  at 
tempt  to  catch  and  the  bag  falls  to  the  floor.] 

*  The  face  of  the  idiot  child,  as  baby  or  later,  is  never  seen  by  the 
audience. 

29 


30  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

MRS.  NASH.  [Sadly."]  It's  no  use,  Harold.  You  can't 
teach  him. 

HAROLD.  Well,  I'm  not  going  to  give  up  trying  yet. 

MRS.  NASH.  Doctor  Spencer  says  you  might  as  well  make 
up  your  mind  to  it. 

HAROLD.  He  doesn't  know  everything.  Something  might 
happen. 

MRS.  NASH.  After  ten  years?  [Smiling  sadly.']  I'm  afraid 
not. 

HAROLD.  [Opens  the  bag  and  takes  out  a  candy  which  he 
places  in  the  child's  mouth.]  Here  .  .  .  open  your  mouth. 
[Then  he  turns  to  his  mother  and  sits  near  her.]  Has  Mrs. 
Walker  heard  from  Ralph? 

MRS.  NASH.  No.  It's  very  strange.  I'm  afraid  it  means 
bad  news. 

HAROLD.  The  boys  at  the  front  are  having  a  rotten  time 
of  it.  Especially  the  green  ones.  They  save  all  the  talent 
and  push  the  youngsters  right  on  to  the  firing  line.  Devilish 
thing,  this  war ! 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  SI 

MRS.  NASH.  Thank  God,  you  didn't  enlist  when  Ralph 
Walker  did.  I  think  it  would  have  killed  me,  Harold. 

HAROLD.  Don't  worry  about  my  enlisting.  Nothing  could 
make  me.  [Angrily.]  Not  even  that  hussy  who  called  me  —  a 
coward ! 

MRS.  NASH.  Who  dared  to  call  you  a  coward? 
HAROLD.  Oh,  never  mind. 

MRS.  NASH.  It's  the  cowards  who  enlist.  It  takes  courage 
to  stay  at  home. 

HAROLD.  You're  right,  Mother,  it  does.  We  could  have 
avoided  this  war  if  we'd  wanted  to.  We're  as  much  to  blame 
as  the  other  side. 

MRS.  NASH.  You'll  keep  out  of  it,  Harold?  No  matter 
what  happens? 

HAROLD.  I've  no  desire,  Mother,  to  go  out  and  kill  fellows, 
just  young  fellows  like  I  am.  Yes.  I'll  keep  out  of  it  —  if 
I  can. 

MRS.  NASH.  My  heart  aches  for  every  suffering  mother  in 
the  world. 


32  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

HAROLD.  It's  tough. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Reflectively.]  Curious,  isn't  it?  There's  just 
one  world,  one  mass  of  human  beings  together.  Probably 
just  one  flag  in  the  sight  of  God  and  yet  .  .  .  [She  breaks  off 
abruptly.]  Let's  not  talk  about  it,  dear.  It  makes  me  sad. 

HAROLD.  We've  got  to  talk  about  it,  Mother.  It  may 
strike  home. 

MRS.  NASH.   [Alarmed.]  What  do  you  mean? 

HAROLD.  We  have  exhausted  our  volunteers.  Now  a  con 
scription  order  has  been  issued. 

MRS.  NASH.  I  don't  understand.  I  don't  know  anything 
about  such  things.  Is  that  the  law? 

HAROLD.  No.  But  in  war  times  they  make  new  laws. 
Each  State  is  obliged  to  provide  a  certain  number  of  men. 
Men  who  have  to  serve  whether  they  want  to  or  not.  Their 
names  are  chosen,  placed  in  a  hat,  all  jumbled  up  together 
and  drawn  .  .  .  [he  smiles]  ...  just  as  you  would  draw  a 
lottery  ticket.  My  name  has  gone  into  the  hat,  Mother. 
Down  at  the  court  house  they  are  drawing  now. 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  83 

MRS.  NASH.  Harold! 

HAROLD.  Such  a  crowd  you  never  saw.  Doctor  Stevens  is 
working  his  head  off.  He's  surgeon  general  and  has  got 
charge  of  the  entire  recruiting. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Terrorized.]  Your  name's  not  in,  Harold 
.  .  .  Oh,  not  your  name ! 

HAROLD.  [Lightly.]  Yes  .  .  .  along  with  the  rest  .  .  . 
a  whole  load  of  men.  There  isn't  a  ghost  of  a  chance  that 
I'll  be  conscripted  but  .  .  . 

MRS.  NASH.  No,  Harold,  no.  I  couldn't  bear  it.  You're 
all  I've  got.  You're  all  my  life,  my  happiness. 

HAROLD.  [Kissing  her.]  Why,  Mother,  what  a  baby  you 
are.  Anybody  would  think  I  were  already  chosen. 

MRS.  NASH.  If  you  should  be  chosen,  MUST  you  go  ? 

HAROLD.  There's  no  free  will  about  it,  Mother.  The 
State  orders.  You  know  what  that  means. 

MRS.  NASH.  [With  a  long  glance  at  POOR  LITTLE  ONE.] 
The  State!  [Bitterly.]  Sometimes  I  almost  hate  the  State. 


54  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

HAROLD.  [Pats  her  hand.']  There  is  one  way  out  of  con 
scription. 

MRS.  NASH.  Tell  me. 

HAROLD.  If  a  man  is  chosen,  he  can  pay  a  certain  sum  of 
money  .  .  .  I'm  not  sure  of  the  amount,  and  the  State  will 
provide  a  substitute. 

MRS.  NASH.  That's  some  comfort. 

HAROLD.  So  even  if  I'm  unlucky  enough  to  be  conscripted, 
we  have  one  hope  left. 

MRS.  NASH.  And  you  sha'n't  go.  Not  if  it  beggars  us  to 
keep  you  here. 

DOCTOR  SPENCER.  [Knocks  on  the  door.  HAROLD  opens 
it.~\  May  I  come  in? 

MRS.  NASH.  Yes,  indeed. 

HAROLD.  Hello,  Doctor  .  .  .  come  right  in.     Sit  down. 

DOCTOR.  [Sitting.]  I  heard  such  a  sobbing  in  the  hall  as 
I  came  up  the  stairs.  I  wonder  what  is  wrong. 

MRS.  NASH.   [Rising.]   Oh,    perhaps    Mrs.     Walker    has 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  35 

heard  something  from  her  son.     I'd  better  see.     I  won't  be  a 
minute. 

DOCTOR.   [Rising.]   If  I  can  be  of  any  help  .  .   . 
MRS.  NASH.   [Going.']   I'll  call  you. 

DOCTOR.   [When  he  is  alone  with  the  boy.]  I've  got  bad 
news  for  you,  Harold. 

HAROLD.  Out  with  it ! 
DOCTOR.   [Looks  at  him.] 
HAROLD.  Called  .   .   .  eh? 

DOCTOR.  Yes.     Called.     Come   with   me   now   and   regis 
ter. 

HAROLD.  I'm  not  going,  Doctor. 

DOCTOR.  You   must,   my  boy.     I'm  here   officially.     You 
must  register  within  an  hour,  or  it  means  arrest. 

HAROLD.  I    don't    believe    in    conscription.     I    won't    be 
forced  to  murder. 


36  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

DOCTOR.  My  dear  boy,  nobody  believes  in  conscription  the 
oretically.  When  war  breaks  out  it  becomes  a  necessity. 
Be  a  man.  Your  country  needs  you. 

HAROLD.  [Matter  of  fact,  not  sentimentally.]  Doctor,  my 
mother  needs  me. 

DOCTOR.  She'll  get  on.     Other  women  do. 
HAROLD.  I  don't  see  how. 

DOCTOR.  [Laying  his  hand  on  HAROLD'S  shoulder. ]  If 
each  fellow  stopped  to  think  of  the  woman  who  needed  him, 
how  do  you  think  we  could  carry  on  a  war? 

HAROLD.  A  pity  he  doesn't  think  then. 

DOCTOR.  [Urging  him.]  You  mustn't  consider  individuals, 
Old  Fellow. 

HAROLD.  [Hotly.]  No  one  ever  has  considered  individuals. 
That's  been  most  of  our  trouble. 

DOCTOR.  [Pleasantly.]  I'm  not  a  Socialist  or  Anarchist 
or  any  other  kind  of  an  1st. 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  37 

HAROLD.   [Excitedly.']  Oh,  yes  you  are.     A  Jingoist. 

DOCTOR.   [Laughs.] 

HAROLD.  [As  before.]  Your  views  and  mine  are  different, 
Doctor.  I've  been  poor  and  you  haven't.  That  may  ac 
count  for  it.  But  sometimes  when  you've  talked  patriotism 
and  glory  up  to  me  —  you  know  how  I  mean  —  I've  had  hard 
work  to  remember  that  you're  my  best  friend ;  Mother's  best 
friend. 

DOCTOR.  I've  only  tried  to  make  you  feel  what  every  man 
ought  to  feel  for  his  country. 

HAROLD.  The  State  has  got  you  hypnotized.  But  it 
hasn't  got  me  and  it  won't  get  me.  I  won't  fight  in  a  war 
I  had  no  voice  in  declaring.  I  won't  fight  for  a  wrong  prin 
ciple.  I  won't  shoot  my  own  brothers  .  .  .  that's  all  there 
is  to  it. 

DOCTOR.  [Gently.]  Harold,  you  aren't  standing  on  a 
soap  box  and  this  isn't  a  street  corner.  This  is  just  between 
friends.  [Again  laying  his  hand  on  HAROLD'S  arm.]  My  dear 
boy,  no  one  is  asking  you  to  volunteer.  This  is  conscription. 
You've  GOT  to  go. 


38  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

HAROLD.  [Turning  to  him,  -fiercely.'}  And  you  call  this  a 
free  country?  [With  a  short  contemptuous  laugh.] 

DOCTOR.  War  changes  everything. 

HAROLD.  [Ignoring  the  answer,  in  the  same  manner  as  be 
fore.]  What's  free  about  this  country?  Who's  free  in  it? 
Are  you?  Am  I?  Can  you  use  your  profession  as  you  want 
to?  Can  you  use  your  judgment  and  your  knowledge  of 
life?  [Hotly.]  No.  Of  course  you  can't.  Can  I  use  my 
strength,  my  energy  as  I  want  to?  No.  I've  got  to  use  it 
-to  kill.  The  State  stuffs  us  full  of  patriotism  and  loy 
alty  until  we  forget  every  decent  instinct  in  us.  Love,  gen 
erosity,  pity  —  everything  goes  but  hate.  We're  turned  into 
fighting  beasts.  That's  all  we  are. 

DOCTOR.   [Protests  dumbly.] 

HAROLD.  And  then  the  hypocrisy  of  it !  Why  doesn't  the 
State  say  "  Get  out  and  murder !  "  "  Let's  all  be  beasts !  " 
"  Get  out  and  kill !  "  Oh,  it  can't  get  me  with  its  talk  of 
patriotism.  No,  by  God,  it  can't  get  me. 

DOCTOR.  Be  sensible,  my  boy.     What  will  you  do? 
HAROLD.  Pay,  of  course.     I'll  pay  their  dirty  money. 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  39 

DOCTOR.  Then  you'll  send  a  substitute?     You're  not  go 
ing? 

HAROLD.  No.     I'm  not  going. 

[The    door   opens    and    MRS.    NASH    enters,    very 
•frightened  and  white.] 

MRS.  NASH.   [Very  softly. ~\    She's  heard,  Harold.     Ralph 
has  been  —  killed.   [She  covers  her  eyes  with  her  hands.'] 

HAROLD.   [Starts.] 

DOCTOR.  Oh,  the  poor  woman.     I'll  go  in  to  her.     The 
first  door  to  the  left,  isn't  it  ? 

MRS.  NASH.   [Nods.] 

DOCTOR.   [Goes] 

HAROLD.   [Stands  staring  before  him] 

MRS.  NASH.  Terrible,  my  boy,  isn't  it? 

HAROLD.   [As  before]   Killed! 

MRS.  NASH.   [Putting   her  arm  about   him]   Thank  God 
...  oh,  thank  God  .   .   .  you  aren't  out  there. 


40  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

HAROLD.   [Draws  a  little  away  from  her.]  Don't,  Mother. 

MRS.  NASH.  What  is  it,  my  boy?     What  is  it? 
HAROLD.   [Does  not  answer.  ] 

MRS.  NASH.  What's  troubling  you,  Harold?  What  is  it, 
dear?  Don't  keep  anything  back  from  your  mother.  [She 
waits  an  instant.]  Of  course  if  you  don't  want  to  tell  me  ... 
you  don't  have  to. 

HAROLD.  I  do  have  to.     I  wish  I  didn't. 

MRS.  NASH.  You  frighten  me.  What  is  it?  Something 
Doctor  Spencer  has  said? 

HAROLD.   [Nods.] 

MRS.  NASH.   [Not  too  tragically.]   You're  conscripted? 

HAROLD.  Yes. 

MRS.  NASH.  But  you're  not  .   .   . 

HAROLD.  I'm  called  [a  pause  — then  resolutely]  and  I'm 
going. 

MRS.  NASH.   [Completely  changed.]   Harold! 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  4.1 

HAROLD.  I've  got  to  register  at  once  —  now. 

MRS.  NASH.  You  promised  me  even  if  you  were  called  .  .  . 
HAROLD.  To  pay  a  price  and  send  another  man. 
MRS.  NASH.   [Clinging  to  him.]  Yes,  dear,  yes. 

HAROLD.   [Staring  ahead  of  him.]  You  can't  pay  for  life 
with  money. 

MRS.  NASH.  But  you  said  .  .  . 

HAROLD.  I  didn't  understand  until  you  came  back  from  in 
—  there. 

MRS.  NASH.  Oh,  my  boy  ...  no !  ...  no ! 
HAROLD.  I'm  trying  to  do  what's  right. 
MRS.  NASH.  I  need  you. 

HAROLD.  The  man  I'd  send  in  my  place  probably  has  a 
mother. 

MRS.  NASH.   [Breaking  down.'}   Oh,  Harold  dear. 


42  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

HAROLD.  [Soothing  her.]  There,  Mother  dear,  don't  cry, 
don't. 

DOCTOR.  [Knocks,  opens  the  door  and  enters. ]  Poor 
woman.  She's  better  alone. 

MRS.  NASH.  Oh,  Doctor,  talk  to  him !  Tell  him  not  to  go. 
I  couldn't  bear  it.  He'll  listen  to  you.  He  always  has. 

DOCTOR.  [Genuinely  surprised.]  Is  he  going?  I  thought 
that  .  .  . 

MRS.  NASH.  [Fiercely.]  Don't  you  know  that  he's  going? 
Didn't  you  come  to  get  him  ?  Aren't  you  trying  to  drag  him 
away  from  me?  Oh,  Harold,  my  son,  listen  to  me. 

HAROLD.   [Stands  staring  and  thinking.] 

MRS.  NASH.  They'll  push  you  to  the  front,  food  for  bul 
lets  ;  they  always  do  with  the  green  ones.  You  told  me  they 
do.  They  did  with  her  boy.  [For  an  instant  she  is  overcome 
at  the  thought.]  Harold,  listen. 

HAROLD.  [Taking  her  in  his  arms.]  Mother  dear,  please, 
I  must  go.  I  — 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  43 

MRS.  NASH.  [Turning  away.]  Help  me,  Doctor.  Talk  to 
him. 

HAROLD.  [Soothingly.]  Hush,  dearie.  You're  making 
too  much  of  it.  To-day  I'm  only  going  to  sign  .  .  . 

MRS.  NASH.  And  then  you'll  go  to  the  front.  They're  all 
going.  Oh,  I  know.  Oh,  Doctor  .  .  .  help  me. 

DOCTOR.  I'm  as  powerless  as  you  are. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Turning  on  him  savagely.]  Why  did  you 
come  here?  Why  did  you  tell  him? 

DOCTOR.  It  was  my  duty. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Bitterly]  Once  before  I  heard  you  quote 
your  duty,  when  like  a  coward  you  wouldn't  give  me  help. 
[With  a  glance  at  the  idiot  child]  You  could  have  spared 
that  child  from  being  born.  But  you  wouldn't  spare  it. 

DOCTOR.  I  couldn't.  You  are  blaming  me  for  things  be 
yond  my  control.  I  didn't  make  the  laws. 

MRS.  NASH.  [Excitedly  and  spontaneously]  The  State 
won't  let  us  women  help  ourselves.  We  MUST  have  children 
whether  we  want  them  or  not.  And  then  the  State  comes 


44  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

and  takes  them  from  us.  It  doesn't  ask.  It  commands. 
We've  got  to  give  them  up.  [Shrilly.]  I've  got  to  give  my 
boy.  [Again  bitterly.]  What  are  we,  we  women?  Just  cat 
tle  !  Breeding  animals  .  .  .  without  a  voice !  Dumb  — 
powerless!  [An  instant's  pause,  then  in  intense  rebellion.] 
Oh,  the  State!  The  State  commands!  And  the  State  for 
bids  !  Damn  the  State ! 

HAROLD.  Mother! 

DOCTOR.  I  wish  that  I  need  not  have  been  the  bearer  of 
this  message. 

MRS.  NASH.  Years  ago  you  wouldn't  help  me  to  end  the 
suffering  of  an  innocent  soul.  You  wouldn't  even  turn  your 
back  while  a  THING  went  out  into  the  darkness.  But  now 
you  come  to  take  him  from  me.  You'd  take  the  boy  I've 
watched  grow  big  and  strong  ...  a  man  .  .  .  and  you'd 
leave  THAT.  [Points  to  the  child.] 

DOCTOR.  Dear  woman,  what  can  I  do? 

MRS.  NASH.  You  said  to  put  that  child  out  of  the  way 

would  be  murder.     The  State  would  call  it  murder.     Well 

.  what's  this?     Tell  me.     Isn't  this  murder?     Isn't  this 


THE  STATE  FORBIDS  45 

life  you  are  taking?  [Savagely.]  Oh,  I  hate  you.  I  have 
hated  you  for  ten  long  years.  But  I  never  knew  how  much 
until  to-day. 

DOCTOR.   [Gently.]  You  are  unstrung.     You  don't  mean 
what  you  are  saying. 

HAROLD.  No,  Doctor,  of  course  she  doesn't.    [Protesting.] 
Mother  dear  .  .  .   [He  comes  and  puts  Ms  arms  about  her.] 

MRS.  NASH.   [Clings  to  him  desperately  and  caresses  him] 

DOCTOR.   [Looking   at   his   watch.]   Sorry,   my   boy,   but 
time's  almost  up. 

HAROLD.   [Gently  putting  his  mother  aside]   I'm  ready. 
MRS.  NASH.   [Clinging]   No,  Harold  ...  no  ... 
HAROLD.  Let  me  go,  dear. 

[The  two  men  start  for  the  door] 

MRS.   NASH.   [In  a  changed  tone,  brokenly  and  appeal- 
ingly]   You  .  .  .  Doctor  .  .   .  You  can't  take  him! 

DOCTOR.   [Pauses  and  turns] 


46  THE  STATE  FORBIDS 

MRS.  NASH.  [Begging.]  Don't  you  remember  what  you 
said?  [Pointing  to  POOR  LITTLE  ONE.]  That  .  .  .  "That's 
life.  Crippled,  imbecile,  whatever  it  is,  it  is  life  and  I  can't 
take  it."  You  said  even  an  unborn  thing  is  life.  Oh,  you 
won't,  Doctor  .  .  .  now.  You  won't.  You  can't. 

HAROLD.   [Pushes  the  DOCTOR  out  the  door.     They  go.] 

MRS.  NASH.  [Following  to  the  doorway.]  This  is  life  you 
are  taking!  [She  screams.]  Harold!  [She  walks  back  mto 
the  room  and  tries  to  collect  herself,  pressing  her  hands  tight 
to  her  throbbing  temples.]  It's  murder!  Murder!  [For  a 
second  she  stands  irresolute,  then  falls  face  forward  across 
the  table  sobbing  'violently.  At  the  sound  the  idiot  child 
raises  its  two  hands  above  its  head,  claps  them  together  and 
bursts  into  a  senseless  piercing  shriek  of  laughter.] 

CURTAIN 


THE    END 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 


AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  5O  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $1.OO  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


__ ; 


......  • 


^iB1 


Oi«3iJUC>tJ 

w  i  v 

8 

Cowan*  Sad 
The  st 

El 

ate  forbids 

nrr*    T?>  nv>  i 

/P^Jh&~ 

4-               - 

APB  iyj4 

825683 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


